What They're Saying About It

Al Arabiya.net is one of the more perverse, seedy tabloid type news sources in the Arab world. It's the internet companion to a satellite channel by the same name. Most of its content involves some deviant sexual relationship, reports of rape, domestic violence and extra marital relationships. Another favorite issue of theirs is Christianity and Islam. Then there's a lot of padding with political and sports news, in order to give the impression of a respected news source.

One of the site's features is the readers' comments on articles. If you can read Arabic and would like a good laugh I recommend you browse some comments (although some are in English, but they are very few). However, I must warn you, some comments may offend you if you value things like human rights, religious freedom and peaceful co existence. Just remember: the poor dears are only practicing what they are taught.

funnily enough, AlArabiya reported the attack on Ezzbat Wassif's Coptic community

And as usual, there's the many readers comments at the bottom of the page. In the interest of fairness, many readers actually had something intelligent and balanced to say. There are however those who are fine examples of utter ignorance, and advanced cases of "Oh-dear-I'm-so-stupid-I-dunno-how-I'm-still-functioning" syndrome.

Those latter dears seem to hold a couple of ideas so close to their hearts:
1) Islam is superior and so it follows they are superior to everyone else
2) The East is Muslim, the West is Christian/Jewish (or ZioChristian as some have so cleverly called it)
3) Western leaders are constantly preoccupied with causing conflict in the East. They (Western leaders) are the ones orchestrating religious strife in the area
4) All problems in the Islamic world have one cause: ZioChristian world
5) All problems in the Islamic world have one solution: Islam
6) Diaspora Copts MUST be Mossad or CIA agents paid to lie and say Copts are discriminated against.

Now that you know this, may I present some of the most outstanding comments, just to give you an idea on how the average Arab Muslim thinks:
* دين الأخلاق الحميدة
ان الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم لم يمنع أهل الكتاب من ممارسة شعائرهم الدينية قط فالاسلام دين التسامح ولم يكن الشغب وسيلة لإبداء الرأي بين المسلمين قط. لكن هذا التصرف ممكن ان يقوم به المسلم غيرة على دينه ودفاعاً عنه
by: مسلمة
The religion of good conduct: by a Muslim woman
The prophet never prevented people oft he book from observing their religious customs. Islam is the religion of forgiveness and never was violence a way for Muslims to express an opinion. However, such attacks may be acts of Muslims out of zeal for their faith and in defense of that faith.

Ah very good feedback sandwich there. Start with the positive then slip in the negative...wait where's the second positive? Maybe she doesn't do sandwiches, she's into feedback pizzas.

*اسماعيد عبواحد )
لازم وزير الداخليه و المخبرات الداخليه يعمل فى مثيرى الفتن دووول زى مكان بيتعمل زمان فى اى حد يكلم فى السياسه .... وغير كده اقباط المهجر الى ملهومش سيره الا انهم يدخلو فى شئوننا الداخليه يلموا نفسهم ودوول اول ناس تعمل فتن بيننا .. وياريت حسنى يسكت الحيوان رئسهم ده انشالله بالاغتيال عشان يبقى عبره Ismael Abdel Wahid:
The minister of interior and secret services must punish anyone who incites these events same as anyone with a political affiliation used to be punished. Also, diaspora Copts who have nothing to do but interfere in our issues should shut up. They are the first to incite religious hatred. I hope Hosni (the president) shuts up their leaders even if he has to have him assassinated..so he can make an example of him

why would we incite religious religious hatred against our own families?? oh sorry I forgot, the Mossad and CIA paying us to do it, blablabla, they just want problems in Egypt blablabla...got it.

هما صح فى كل الاحوال*
عبد الرحمن )
الحكومة عندنا فى مصر ممكن تدوس على رقبة المسلم علشان المسيحى يعيش وعلشان امريكا متقولش ان مصر بتعامل الاقباط بطريقة وحشة وتنقلب عليها فبتالى المسلم هنا حقة ضايع بجد ومش عرفين لغاية متى هنكون كدة They're always right anyway by Abdul Rahman
Our Egyptian governments easily steps on a Muslim's neck to please the Christians and so Americans don't think we mistreat Copts. As a result, a Muslim has no rights in Egypt and we don't know how long we'll have to suffer like this.

WOW!! Now HE is special...the poor man has completely left our realm.

اتلموا بقى يا أخوه*
مصرى )
انا باقول للاخوه المسيحيين اتلموا بقى بلاش قله ادب وخليكم ماشيين جنب الحيط ما احنا عندنا اصحاب مسيحيين زى الفل ومفيش اى تعصب بلاش استفزاز للمسلمين المسلميين مبيعملوش حاجه من فراغ اكيد حد استفزهم احنا اخوات واكتر من الاخوات بالادب وحسن المعاشره .... هتسخنوا... هيسخن المسلميين وانتوا فى الاخر اللى خسرانين مش كده ولا ايه ؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟ ياريت محدش يزعل ونفضل اخوات .... انا بحب اصحابى المسيحيين كتير قوى وهما كمان بيحبونى بالادب سلام Watch yourselves by an Egyptian

I say to the Christian brothers, behave and watch yourselves. Keep to yourselves and take a corner (??) We have many good Christian friends who aren't fundamentalists. Stop provoking Muslims, Muslims don't act out of nothing. If You get hotheaded, so will we but at the end, YOU'LL LOSE, don't you agree. I hope nobody gets upset and we remain brothers. I love my Christian friends and they love me...respectfully.

Now see Muslim woman, this guy knows how to do a feedback sandwich. Hang on I have to tremble a bit because his threatening comment scared me. Hurry Copts, bow your heads to your masters OR ELSE!!! but we're all brothers anyway.

* الله أكبر
الله أكبر والنصر للمسلمين باذن الله God is Great (allahu akbar)
Allahu Akbar and the Muslims will be victorious with His help.

He gets 3 points for effort. The guy must've exhausted his lonely brain cell to come up with this one.

لازم كل واحد يعرف قدره*
على من اسكندرية )
اكيد المشاكل بين المسلمين و المسيحيين زادت الايام الاخيرة فى مصر عشان المسيحيين فى مصر فاكرين انهم بقو ليهم قيمة فى مصر وفاكرين ان امريكا الطاغية ممكن تفرض على المسلمين قيودا عشان المسيحيين يعملو الى هما عاوزينه. نصيحة للمسيحيين ياريت تعرفو قيمتكو و قدركم فى مصر .. خليكو بعيد عن استفزاز المسلمين عشان ما تاخدوش على دماغكو كل مرة و سيبكو من امريكا عشان مش هتنفعكو ولا هتاخدو حقكو بيها. بلاش تحرقو نفسيكو بنفسيكو و خليكو حلوييين احسن ليكو
Everyone should know their worth by Ali from Alexandria

I'm certain problems between Muslims and Christians these days have increased, because Copts are starting to think they're actually worth something in this country. They think the all powerful America can force Muslims so they'll let Christians run rampant. word of advice to Christians: you should learn your worth and know your place in Egypt, leave the Americans out of this because they won't be able to help you or return your rights. You'll just be burning yourselves...better if you behave.

Ali mate; we know our worth and our place... We are COPTS which means EGYPTIANS. That land you stand upon was cultivated by our ancestors. The city in which you live contained the most grand of libraries in the history if humanity...Incidentally it was one of your ancestors who burnt it. No surprises then to hear what you have to say.

And so much more I won't bore you with. But you get the idea. Basically:

1) Its your fault we attacked you
2) It's America/Israel's fault we attacked you
3) Shut up or we'll attack you again, and that'll be your fault too.

Now again, I stress that there were many readers who posted sensible and intelligent comments, and I salute them. But the point is, the ones who just bark without thinking need to be heard too. That's the only way we can learn why they hate us so much...maybe there's a way to educate the ignorant or at least try to raise awareness.